San Diego military news



SAN DIEGO (Sept. 24, 2016)--U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a aerobatic maneuvers with their F/A-18 Hornets during the 2016 Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar Air Show. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ariana Castro.

PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 23, 2016)--The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), front, the Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), middle, and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), back, transit the Philippine Sea in formation for a photo exercise during Valiant Shield 2016.The biennial, U.S. only, field-training exercise focuses on integration of joint training among U.S. forces. This is the sixth exercise in the Valiant Shield series that began in 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Schneider

San Diego to be homeport for two new DDG class ships
SAN DIEGO - The Navy announced the future guided-missile destroyers USS John Finn (DDG 113) and USS RAFAEL PERALTA - DDG 115 are scheduled to be homeported at Naval Base San Diego following their respective commissionings.
Rafael Peralta is expected to arrive in San Diego in fall of 2016 and John Finn will follow in early 2017.
Rafael Peralta is being built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and John Finn is being built by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Both ships are Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The U.S. Navy continually monitors force readiness and ability to provide the most robust, capable maritime force possible. Stationing destroyers in a West Coast port supports the rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, placing our most advanced capabilities and greater capacity in that vital theater. By 2020, approximately 60 percent of Navy ships and aircraft will be based in the region.
Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW). The destroyer's armament has greatly expanded the role of the ship in strike warfare utilizing the MK-41 Vertical Launch System (VLS).

National military news
Deadline approaching for alternate combination cover wear date
9/19/2016
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Oct. 31 deadline for wear of the Alternative Combination Cover (ACC) is approaching and Navy leaders want to remind all officers and chiefs to acquire that cover or the current combination cover by that date.
The deadline for wear was announced last October in NAVADMIN 236/15, which detailed the plan to redesign several uniform elements for Sailors that improve uniformity across the force, as well as improve fit and function of the uniforms. This policy phased out the female "bucket" cover and mandated the ACC and the current combination cover for wear by both men and women. Wear-tests and Sailors' feedback were incorporated into the final designs that were announced.
Since the release of that message, the ACC has been available for purchase in Navy Exchange (NEX) Uniform Stores and through the call center.
The ACC and combination cover for officers and chiefs can be worn by both men and women in service and dress uniforms.
Based on availability in the NEX, Sailors are advised to make their purchase now to avoid any issues that would prevent them from having the cover in time for the wear date.
To view the full NAVADMIN, click HERE.
For more information on upcoming uniform updates, click HERE.

Navy announces new suicide prevention program
9/16/2016
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- On Sept. 16, the Navy's 21st Century Sailor Office announced the new suicide prevention program known as Sailor Assistance and Intercept for Life (SAIL), aimed at supplementing existing mental health treatment by providing continual support through the first 90 days after suicide-related behavior.
"This program is designed to boost our existing efforts to prevent suicide across the Fleet by showing there is someone that will stay in touch with them and make sure they are doing well," said Capt. Michael Fisher, dir., Operational Stress Control and Suicide Prevention branch. "This is part of a wide range of actions we are taking to help our Sailors. Doing this will boost our suicide prevention work that's ongoing Navy-wide."
The SAIL program started in the Pacific Northwest Region on Aug. 29, 2016, with a phased regional rollout plan scheduled for completion by the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 throughout the Navy.
The program is designed to provide rapid assistance, on-going risk assessment and support for Sailors who have exhibited suicide-related behavior and was inspired by the Marine Intercept Program (MIP), a suicide prevention project with similar goals.
Navy Suicide Prevention Branch (OPNAV N171) is partnering with Navy Bureau of Medicine (BUMED), Commander Navy Installation Command (CNIC), and SAIL Case managers who are serving as Fleet and Family Service Center (FFSC) counselors to run this new program.
Upon receiving information from commands about a Sailor who has demonstrated suicide-related behavior, Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPC) will work with CNIC, and in turn an FFSC case manager, whose responsibility will be to reach out to the individual Sailor to see if they would volunteer to participate in the SAIL program. Case managers will contact Sailors in the 90 days following suicide-related behavior.
Suicide Prevention is a cooperative Navy-wide effort that takes leadership engagement and awareness at all commands and ranks. OPNAV, BUMED, CNIC work together to provide a range of resources to include: mental health treatment, spiritual counseling, personal wellness counseling, crisis intervention as well as financial education.
The Military Crisis Line offers confidential support for active duty and reserve service members and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online at www.militarycrisisline.net or send a text message to 838255.

Secretary of the Navy names two Littoral Combat Ships
9/22/2016
From Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Sept. 22, that the next Freedom and Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships will be named USS Marinette (LCS 25) and USS Mobile (LCS 26) to recognize the two cities' significant contribution to Navy ship building.
The ceremony took place at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.
The future USS Marinette (LCS 25), a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be the first commissioned U.S. Navy ship to bear the name.
The future USS Mobile (LCS 26), an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be the fifth ship to bear the name. The last USS Mobile (LKA-115) was a Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship and served for more than 24 years before being decommissioned in 1994.
A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute a variety of missions in areas such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.
The ship will be built with modular design incorporating mission packages that can be changed out quickly as combat needs change in a region. These mission packages are supported by detachments that deploy both manned and unmanned vehicles, and sensors, in support of mine, undersea, and surface warfare missions.
Marinette will be built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Mobile will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
Additional information about Littoral Combat Ships is available online at www.navy.mil/local/LCSIndependence/ and
www.navy.mil/local/LCSFreedom/



United Through Reading®
Deploying? Service members invited to record stories for family at San Diego USO
United Through Reading® is a program helping ease the stress of separation for military families by having deploying or deployed service members read children’s books aloud via DVD for their family to watch at home. This powerful program is available to all military units. It provides service members a chance to make lasting connections from afar. The DVD recording and the book are mailed to the child and family back home.
Service members who are leaving for training can also take part in this program. Being a parent is not required; service members can send the DVD & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew or godchild.
On the day of the recording, service members are encouraged to dress in the attire they will be wearing while deployed/training, but this is not required. The room is private, so any special message, or those fun reading voices, will only be heard by the recipient of the DVD recording. USO San Diego has books available, or service members can bring their own. Our volunteers will help set up the camera and then leave the room. The DVD can hold a 30 minute recording.
Please e-mail USO San Diego Staff Member Nichole Duarte at utr@usosandiego.org to make your appointment. This program is offered at both USO San Diego centers.